Canada and the United States of America have different views of newcomers to each country. Canada has a policy of integration; the United States, of assimilation.
An immigrant to Canada is given the privilege of retaining his or her identity, preserve the traditions of the country of origin as well as celebrate them and settle peacefully with other ethnocultural groups in the country.
The various cultures together form what is known as the Canadian Mosaic. There is the expectation of respect from one another’s cultural group. Hence, the use of the hyphenated identification of each group: Filipino Canadian, Italian Canadian, Greek Canadian, Chinese-Canadian etc.
In the United States, an immigrant is expected to become American, become a part of the country’s culture. There are references to certain groups like the Hispanics, the Blacks, the Asians but no official recognition of differences in culture.
In spite of the tolerance in preserving one’s culture in Canada, it cannot be denied that a newcomer has to adjust and learn the language and cultural practices prevailing in the country he or she decides to settle in.
In the process of adjustment, three groups have been identified; one is made up of those who wholeheartedly embrace everything in the new country and does not want to be identified with the country of origin.
He/she only eats the food most Canadians eat; dresses like a North American all the time, prefers to befriend those who do not belong to his own ethnocultural group,
He/she does not speak in his first language and as much as possible, speaks with the American or Canadian accent.
There is this story often used to mock this fully assimilated immigrant: Someone met one of them in a party. :Saan ka sa atin?” the fellow was asked.
“I’m from Manila,” he answered in a very Canadian accent.
“Saan sa Maynila?”the inquirer asked again.
“St. Andrews of the Fields” (San Andres Bukid) he responded,.
It took a while before the other Filipino realized what he was talking about.
The second group of immigrants are in the other end of the scale. From his group is the very nationalistic settler. He continues to eat only Filipino dishes and as much as he can, only speaks in his native tongue.
He/she criticizes everything that he finds different from what he/she is used to and always tells his new friends how great his life was in his country of origin. He regals his listeners about his position of power that he reluctantly left to join his family in coming to Canada.
The third group are in the middle. These are settlers who speak both the official language of the country they immigrated to as well – their own native languages when speaking to family and fellow countrymen.
They make friends with people from all ethnocultural groups whom they are comfortable with. They attend gatherings of different cultures. These are the people who productively contribute to the Canadian mosaic.
To which group do we belong?
To belong to the first group is to abandon everything that is Filipino. This is difficult. Our upbringing is a part of our personality and will come out unknowingly no matter what we do to cover up or forget it. We will antagonize or be mocked by fellow Filipinos and also be laughed at by other ethnocultural groups.
Being a member of the second group is equally difficult. One cannot exist in isolation. We have to react with the people in our environment. We cannot be adjusted to our new surroundings if we are not willing to learn and be tolerant of the ways of life of others. It is good to maintain some of our mores and traditions but we have to be open to the beauty of other cultures.
The third group has the best chance of getting well-settled in the new environment. They are open to integration and at the same time are happy in retaining their own culture.
We can be very proud of ourselves knowing that we have something to share as well as sharing what others have to offer.
What beautiful traditions do Filipinos possess?
We are proud of our close extended family ties. We are happy to maintain those bonds to the extent of sacrificing for other members of our families. It is a fact that thousands of families in the Philippines receive the “padala” every month from relatives overseas, for their sustenance and education of offspring nephews, nieces and grandchildren.
We are a hardworking people, not only in menial work. While majority of newcomers who came in the 80’s and later were mostly caregivers, those who preceded them were professionals, doctors, nurses, technical people and the like. Even among the caregivers and household workers, a great many were university graduates who could not find a good job in the Philippines.
Filipinos love education. Parents would sell their ricefields and other real estate property to send their children to university. A newspaper in Toronto reported in the early part of this century that Filipinos are the highest educated group of immigrants to Canada.
Filipinos were brought up respecting and caring for their elders. Senior and long term care homes are not very popular in the Philippines.
Hospitality is another desirable Filipino trait. Relatives from provinces came to the city and are accommodated as extended family. They do not usually pay rent. They look back to the favour as “utang na loob”.
During town fiestas, all homes in the community prepare a feast. Friends who are invited come, bringing friends the homeowners they go to, do not know, and they are welcome. This is a practice frowned at here in Canada and very few do it without asking permission from the hosts.
Filipinos in general are great lovers of music,. We use music for courting a loved one by a :harana”, we hire a music band to lead a funeral, we express our sadness and joy in “kundiman”, we have folk songs for our work to earn a living like planting rice,
We have songs that make us laugh and songs that make us cry. We even have the “Life and Passion of Christ” in song, that we celebrate during Holy Week.
Attend a performance of Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe that portrays distinct cultures in certain parts of the Philippines to capture the magic of music in Filipino culture.
Indeed, Filipinos have much to contribute to the Canadian Mosaic. We can say with our heads high to the whole of Canada”
Ako ay Filipino
Sa kulay, sa dugo
Pilipinong ganap
Sa gawi at anyo
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